Stories From Cancer Survivors: Pregnancy Threatened

I was diagnosed with cervical cancer, when I was 19 weeks pregnant. The happiest time in my life quickly turned to the saddest. I worried everyday that the tumor would grow and risk my unborn baby’s life.A doctor at the Mayo clinic advised me to terminate the pregnancy, to save my life and be a mother to my 1 year old daughter at home. I wouldn’t listen and knew I had to take the chance at having a healthy baby. The scariest day of my life was July 1st, 2003.

The cervical tumor had grown larger and was about to invade my lymph-nodes. I was 34 weeks pregnant and it was time to induce. I had a cesarean and radical hysterectomy in the same surgery. The baby was had health complications and was rushed to NICU and placed on a ventilator for weeks.

If it was not for the incredible nursing staff at Northwestern Hospital in Evanston, IL my baby would not have become the healthy child she is today. The nurses lovingly held her, even before I could, and took care of her everyday. They taught me how to care for a preemie and eased my nerves. They were caretakers, therapists, friends, but most of all angels that I will never forget.

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